For meals with several steps, choose according to what you want the appliance to do: a cooking food processor combines preparation and cooking, a food processor prepares ingredients without cooking them, while a multicooker focuses on cooking. If you mainly make bread dough or blended mixtures, a stand mixer or blender may be enough. In every case, check the usable capacity, included accessories, cleaning requirements and how much space you’ll need.
If your meals regularly go from chopping or mixing to simmering or steaming, compare cooking food processors. UFC-Que Choisir classifies these appliances by their ability to prepare and cook, although features vary between models.
If you chop, grate, slice or knead before cooking on the hob or in the oven, a food processor is better suited to these tasks. Check which accessories come with the model you choose.
If you often make bread and cakes, consider a stand mixer. If you mainly need blending, compare blenders with the appliances you already own.
Start with the steps involved in the recipes you make most often, then compare each appliance’s capacity and practical requirements with your kitchen. UFC-Que Choisir’s guides distinguish between food preparation appliances, cooking food processors and multicookers designed primarily for cooking.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks handled | Identify the tasks you want to automate. A cooking food processor prepares and cooks; a food processor does not cook; according to UFC-Que Choisir, a multicooker does not generally mix food. | I want to cut down on handling between preparation and cooking, or delegate just one of these steps. In a 2020 survey of 1,695 subscribers who owned food processors, UFC-Que Choisir found that 52% of respondents felt their cooking food processor saved them time in the kitchen. This is a reported perception, not a prediction of how much time every household will save. |
| Capacity and space | Compare your usual portions with the usable capacity and filling limits, especially for a multicooker. Also measure the space needed for the appliance and its accessories. | I need a bowl that suits the meals I usually make, without choosing an appliance that’s too bulky to get out or put away. |
| Cleaning and care | Check how many parts need washing, how easily they come apart and what the manual says about using the dishwasher. Make space to store discs and other accessories. | If every meal leaves me with several parts to clean, I may be less likely to use the appliance every day. |
| Features and recipes | Check which accessories are included with the exact model variant and whether you can access the recipes offered. A list of features doesn’t guarantee that each one will suit the way you cook. | I’d like to try new recipes without buying accessories I won’t use. In the same 2020 UFC-Que Choisir survey of 1,695 subscribers who owned food processors, 49% of respondents said their cooking food processor had broadened their repertoire. This is a reported effect, not a guaranteed result. |
| Main use | If you often knead dough, compare stand mixers; if blending is your priority, consider a blender. Check which other tasks you’ll still need to do by hand or with an appliance you already own. | My meals involve several tasks, but I don’t want extra features if there’s only one I’ll use regularly. |
An appliance may advertise lots of functions without including every accessory you need. UFC-Que Choisir, for example, tests certain food processor accessories only when they’re supplied with the appliance.
Write down the steps involved in a few recipes you make regularly, then check the accessory list for the exact model variant.
You may not be able to fill a multicooker bowl to its stated capacity, particularly if you need to avoid spills.
Check the manual for the filling limits that apply to your recipes and compare them with your usual portions.
Bowls, lids and discs mean more to handle after a meal; a large bowl can also be impractical for small quantities.
Measure your storage space and check the cleaning instructions in the manual for each individual part.
In September 2024, UFC-Que Choisir reported accounts of burns caused by hot soup splashes from the Moulinex Companion HF800, which was still available second-hand or refurbished at the time. This report relates to that specific model, not the entire Companion range.
Before buying second-hand, check the full model number, inspect the lid, seal and locking mechanisms, and ask for the manual.
These brand examples help distinguish the appliance types mentioned by UFC-Que Choisir; they don’t describe the features of every model from those brands.
UFC-Que Choisir lists Magimix among food processor manufacturers and its Cook Expert range in the cooking food processor category.
UFC-Que Choisir lists the Companion and Cookeo ranges in the cooking food processor and multicooker categories respectively.
UFC-Que Choisir lists Vorwerk’s Thermomix range among cooking food processors.
Kenwood features in UFC-Que Choisir’s food processor comparisons; its Cooking Chef is also listed among cooking stand mixers.
These models offer two ways to approach meals with several steps: combine preparation and cooking in a cooking food processor, or focus on cooking with a multicooker. With the latter, you’ll need to prepare ingredients separately where the recipe calls for it.
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Worth considering if you want to combine preparation and cooking in one appliance. The name of this variant indicates an XL bowl, built-in scales and a large touchscreen. Check the usable capacity and included accessories for your recipes. Also confirm the recipe access advertised for this variant and the washing instructions for each part.
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Compare this cooking food processor if you want to prepare and then cook in the same appliance. Its name indicates built-in scales and a touchscreen. Before choosing, check the included accessories, the bowl’s filling limit and the cleaning instructions.
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This multicooker suits those whose main priority is cooking, with a stated capacity of 7,1 L. Check the manual for the filling limit that applies to your recipes. If you also want to automate chopping or grating, check those functions separately. Follow the instructions for steam and pressure cooking.
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Compare this model if you want an appliance dedicated to cooking rather than chopping. This variant is listed as 5.7L; adjust your portions to the filling levels in the manual, particularly for pressure cooking, and follow the instructions for releasing steam.
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This multicooker is designed for meals where cooking is the task you want the appliance to handle. Its name lists an 8L capacity and 12 programmes. Compare the usable capacity with your portion sizes, then check the preparation functions, filling levels and cleaning instructions in the manual.
Not for every task: according to UFC-Que Choisir, a multicooker focuses on cooking and does not generally mix food. If your recipes often involve chopping, grating or blending, you’ll need to do that by hand or use another appliance.
Read the manual for your model to find out which parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean the motor unit. UFC-Que Choisir advises against immersing it in water. Handle the blades carefully and follow the appliance’s safety instructions.
Yes. In France, when an individual buys a second-hand or refurbished item from a professional seller, the legal guarantee of conformity applies just as it does to a new item, according to the Ministry of the Economy. Check the seller’s credentials and keep the information describing the model you bought.
Find out whether it can be taken back as electrical equipment. France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition explains that, in France, buying a similar appliance entitles you to a free ‘one-for-one’ take-back in store, with no minimum shop floor area. Take-back without a purchase is available at stores with at least 400 m² of sales space dedicated to this category.